A-F

 

DEVELOPMENT-
TERMS

 

 

 

DEFINITIONS,
INTERPRETATIONS

 

 

Accompaniment
det å ledsage

  • A term used by Peace Brigades International to describe the practice of international personnel journeying together with or being physically present with ("accompanying") local actors and partners. The intention is to provide greater security and personal safety for local actors, through the presence of international observers, as a show of solidarity and support for their work, and in the belief that parties to a conflict will be less willing to do harm or kill local actors accompanied by international personnel.

HBH

 

 

Accountability
ansvarlighet

Responsibility, reliability, confidence and transparency in the context of development cooperation; associated specifically with financial issues, but includes all relevant matters of development concern and cooperation between partners.


See: good governance.

 

 

Activity
aktivitet / tiltak

LFA : Action taken or work performed within a project in order to transform input (funds, materials, technical know-how etc.) into output (improved capacities, produced assessment/baseline studies, enhanced public awareness on specific issues etc.)

 

 

Added value
tilleggsverdi/merverdi

In a development context, A refers to the presumed development advantage/benefit/gain (social, professional, political) when considering/comparing the approach of various development actors (e.g. government, NGO, consultancy firm).

A has a distant correlation to the concept of "value added" in economy, denoting the net value of a specific production (after input costs have been subtracted).

(PR)

 

 

Advocacy
målbære

  1. Giving voice to a cause; active verbal support for a cause or position.

  2. Giving marginalised people a voice; support for people who are likely to be disregarded or to have difficulty in gaining attention, to ensure that their opinion is listened to and their needs recognised

A is seen as the umbrella term for a range of activities, including lobbying, campaigning, networking, public awareness work etc. A by international NGOs is often undertaken on behalf of the organisations and people whose work they are assisting, as a way to maximise the impact of conventional project funding, and to support the goals and needs of partner organisations. 

(OHDR)

NPA context : A rests heavily on the notion of solidarity and is seen as an important vehicle to challenging repressive socio-political structures. One important commitment for NPA is to strengthen the capacity of the partners to undertake their own A work, both nationally and internationally. NPA also launches and supports A -endeavours and initiatives independent of conventional project or program funding.

 

 

Affirmative action
kvotering,
"positiv diskriminering"

A policy or a program that seeks to redress past discrimination - e.g. of women and minority groups -  through active measures of "positive discrimination" in favour of these groups, to ensure equal opportunity, as in education and employment.

See: equity, gender equity, empowerment, Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM)

 

 

African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)
Den afrikanske partner-eksaminerings-mekanismen

An instrument voluntarily acceded to by Member States of the African Union (OAU) as an African self-monitoring development mechanism. The primary purpose of the APRM is to "foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration through sharing of experiences and reinforcement of successful and best practice, including identifying deficiencies and assessing the needs for capacity building".

(38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU, 8 July, 2002, Durban, South Africa )

See: New Partnership for Afraca's Development (NEPAD)

 

 

Agreement
samarbeidsavtale

See: partnership agreement

 

 

AIDSNET
AIDSNETT

A Norwegian network focussing on global challenges related to the AIDS pandemic. The network primarily gathers three main groups of actors: 
- Norwegian NGOs
- Norwegian researcers and research institutes
- the Norwegian Development Cooperation administration 

 

 

Anti-Personnel Mine (APM)
anti-personell mine

a mine designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person, and that will incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons.

PN

 

Appraisal
samlet gjennomgang og vurdering av grunnlagsdata, som bakgrunn for å anbefale/fraråde prosjekt- el. programstøtte.   

Overall consideration of the relevance, feasibility and sustainability of a project prior to making a decision on whether or not to undertake it. An A may be based on one or several  impact assessment studies (social, environmental, institutional, economic, gender etc.), which represent the anticipated and "policy neutral" pros and cons of project planning and implementation. The A represents the "policy level" of analysis and decision-making, where pros and cons (as presented in previous impact assessment studies) of a project are carefully considered prior to final decision.

 

 

Appropriate technology
tilpasset teknologi

See: intermediate technology

 

 

Appropriation document
tilsagns-dokument

A document which assigns resources (financial, material) for specific purposes.

 

 

Assessment
vurdering, verdsetting, "taksering"

Strictly professional/technical analysis of pros and cons anticipated as resulting from planned project/program implementation; various forms of impact assessment studies (social-, environmental-, institutional, economic etc.)


See: appraisal , feasibility , cost-benefit analysis

 

 

Assistance
bistand, støtte

Support given to an organisation or partner, be it economic, social or political.


See: demand driven assistance , supply driven assistance

 

 

Assumptions
antakelser,
forutsetninger

LFA: Events, conditions or decisions which are necessary for project success, but which are largely or completely beyond the control of project management.

 

 

Atheism
ateisme

A non-prophet organisation J.

 

 

Awareness-raising
bevisstgjøring

Stimulation of self-reflected critical awareness in people of their social reality and of their ability to transform that reality by their conscious personal or collective action . Through positive experience, and small successes reinforcing each other, the objective of increased self-confidence can be acquired. A refers to personal development, something which occurs within a person; it can not be imposed from outside.

SB

See: empowerment , popular mobilisation , public awareness , self-reliance

 

 

Baseline study
referansestudie, tilstandsrapport, levekårsundersøkelse

 

 

Study undertaken prior to project/program implementation in order to establish reference points for monitoring and evaluation of progress/success.

Basic needs
grunnbehov

Material and value based "minimum needs" that are considered absolutely essential for human survival and well-being; the assumed needs that people will seek to cover prior to other (and assumed relative) needs in times of hardship, such as the need for clean water, foot/nutrition, shelter, clothing, basic education and basic health care.

In the 1970s. ILO launced a B-strategy that also included the right to political influence and participation and basic human rights.

In a human rights  perspective a rights-based approach sees people’s B as a matter of right, rather than benevolence.


see: Millennium Goals

 

 

Benchmarking
forbedring av  produkt eller tjeneste ved å sammenligne med og lære av andre markeds-aktører.

Within business management rhetoric, B refers both to an improvement tool and a continuous process whereby an enterprise measures and compares all its functions, systems and practices against strong competitors, identifying quality gaps in the organization, and striving to achieve competitive advantage locally and globally.

B usually encompasses:

  • regularly comparing aspects of performance (functions or processes) with best practitioners;
  • identifying gaps in performance;
  • seeking fresh approaches to bring about improvements in performance;
  • following through with implementing improvements;
  • and following up by monitoring progress and reviewing the benefits.

PSBS

See: New Public management (NPM)

 

 

Beneficiaries
..de som drar nytte av...

NPA-context :

Direct beneficiaries refers to a group of people being supported within the context of a project/program - as singled out in quantitative / geographical terms (e.g. " 20 rural women entrepreneurs in Tsholotsho district" , " 250 retrenched workers in Harare Industrial Area" ) - from the collective target group (i.e. "rural women entrepreneurs", "retrenched workers, respectively).

Indirect beneficiaries refers to individuals or groups that are not formally linked to the project, but whom one assumes will also, indirectly, benefit from project/program operations.

 

 

Best Available Technology(BAT)
best tilgjengelige teknologi

In international conventions the BAT concept is adopted to ensure usage of the most environmental-friendly technology available. Today, however, BAT is criticised due to the heavy focus on technology , while modest attention is directed to the source of pollution. BAT is also frequently being misused to mean Best Available Technology within "economic" limits.

E.E.

See:intermediate technology , liability , precautionary principle .

 

 

Biodiversity
biologisk mangfold

The diversity of plant and animal life in a particular habitat, or in the world as a whole; "a high level of biodiversity is desireable".

E.E.

 

 

Bottom up
grasrotinitiert utvikling
"nedenfra og opp"

Refers to grassroots-initiated development activities; a development process initiated and generated from grassroots level, gradually spreading to higher levels of  community.


See: top-down , trickle down .

 

 

Brain drain
"hjerneflukt"

Refers to a situation where the qualified/educated elites of developing countries emigrate and take up jobs overseas, at salary levels far more favourable than what can be afforded in their mother country. In its development endeavours the mother country is therefore not in the position to fully utilise or benefit from the intellectual potential represented by its qualified/educated elites.

 

 

Bretton Woods Institutions
Bretton Woods institusjonene

Connotes to a town in New Hampshire, U.S. that  served as the premise  for the post WWII United Nations’ Monetary and Financial Conference in 1944. 44 of the UN member countries agreed on the shape of the post-war world economic order and the establishment of the post-WWII international financial institutions.. These so called Bretton Woods Institutions included the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development - i.e. the "World Bank" (WB), and the International Trade Organization (ITO). The ITO never got off the ground and in its place was established the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which evolved into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995. "Bretton Woods" also is used as a term to signify the financial system of fixed currency exchange rates among countries, rates that were ultimately linked to the value of gold. That standard was abandoned by U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1971 and replaced by the current system of "floating exchange rates," where the value of a currency is relative to other currencies.

KAK

"At the end of the WWII, the WB and the IMF were seen as progressive institutions. When these institutions were created at Bretton Woods in 1944, their mandate was to help prevent future conflicts by lending for reconstruction and development and by smoothing out temporary balance of payments problems. They had no control over individual governments' economic decisions nor did their mandate include a licence to intervene in national policy."

Susan George

See: poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP), structural adjustment program (SAP), Wahington Consensus

 

 

Bridge-building
brobygging

NPA context: The promotion of cooperation and dialogue "across borders" as a vehicle to enhance understanding and cooperation. Some of the B -related activities that have been identified involve:

  1. Promoting dialogue between conflicting parties;
    also establish connections between parties that are not known to each other, but whom are seen to benefit from being connected.
  2. facilitating communication between children and youth of different nations - e.g. through the Young Voices network.
  3. Building dialogue, communication and respect between various groups of society as part of the struggle to overcome racism, and fear of "others" (xenophobia).
  4. Stronger focus on the NPA local membership branches as linked up to the international solidarity based long term development programs ("from people to people"). If/when feasible, facilitate contact and exchange between the First Aid branch of NPA and its international partner organisations

PR

 

 

Campaigning
drive kampanje

Refers to a variety of attempts to influence the policy environment affecting the work of e.g. an agency or an organisation, and the efforts to mobilise wider support for such change amongst its constituency.

OHDR

See: advocacy , lobbying , networking , public awareness

 

 

Capacity building
kapasitets-bygging

Refers to strategies focusing on a variety of aspects of human and organisational development, but exceeding the limitations of mere competence-building; C involves e.g. the ultimate potential of an institutional/organisational body of receiving and absorbing/utilising resources. Thus, C may include a wide range of activities; awareness-raising and competence-building, as well as moves of a (re)structuring, organising and/or prioritising nature. C - activities are particularly geared to secure the realisation of sustainability-oriented development strategies and also serves as a major vehicle for realisation of fundamental and interlinked empowerment strategies. Strengthening communication and dialogue between actors within an organisation and between different departments, and between an organisation and its partners and constituency, is a vital aspect of C .

 

 

Capitalism
kapitalisme

 

Like many ideologically laden words, C denotes a variety of meanings, ideas and interpretations. Based on historical record, however, it may seem adequate to label C more as a mode of production rather than as an ideology per sec.

Some classical characteristics of the capitalist mode of production are:

  • private ownership to the means of production.
  • private initiative and free competition unfolding within a free and unrestricted market economy.
  • individuals who are "free" to sell (workers) or buy (capital owners) labour.
  • Re-investment of profit  in persuanse of ever  increasing rates of return.   

In classical C , economic activity is  typically organised by private capital owners, who by means of their capital aquire ownership of the means of production (tools, machines), buy the raw materials and pay for the labour needed. Due to the inherent logic and dynamics of C , the capitalist will normally seek to invest the obtained surplus in new profitable ventures to constantly increase his or her rate of returns. As the ideal capitalist mode of production unfolds within the framework of "free" and unrestricted competition displayed in "free" and unregulated markets, the "unsurpassed effectiveness" of C is often emphasised.

It was during the 1700s, following the Industrial Revolution's need for huge amounts of investment capital, that C can be said to have begun and share-trading in corporate bodies became common and widely understood. Contrary to democratic practice, shareholders generally have votes in the exercise of authority over the company in proportion to the size of their share of the capital that they own. Capitalist mode of production has over time served as the vehicle for organising large-scale production that required large -scale investment in periods of trade-, industrial-, finance- and monopoly-capitalism respectively. Thus, since its beginning, C has continued to develop and spread, and has over time become the predominant organising principle of economic activity; C represents in modern time the global economic system that all nations to a varying degree are embedded in and therefore - for better or worse - must interact with.

As the early stages of C unfolded in a time when Liberalist thinking gained momentum, Liberalism  came to serve more or less as the ideological framework and justification for the capitalist mode of production.  The term C is also often referred to as ideologically contrasting the concept of "socialism", or as a substitute concept for " neo-liberalism " or " globalisation ". 

The change from feudal and tradition based mode of production to capitalist mode of production is often perceived almost as an "evolutionary" process fuelled by the "inevitable" and dynamic production forces, constantly struggling to secure optimal freedom of operation. Notably, there seems to be a shared understanding, also among contemporary Marxist oriented theorists, that it is not within the powers of individuals or individual groups to prematurely "end" C as such. Thus, rather than challenging the capitalist mode of production per se, mainstream political controversy seems to centre around to what degree C should be controlled, and the degree of state interventions to secure redistribution of wealth. While neo-liberal proponents advocate that market-economy be safeguarded against political interference, others (i.a. social-democrats and socialists) see it as a democratic imperative to seek the primacy of political rule over economy.

KAK
 

See : Freedom

 

 

Cash crops
avlinger beregnet for kontant-salg

Refers to agricultural products produced for sale at the local/national market, to provide for financial income.

E.E.

 

 

Catalyst role
katalysator-rolle

NPA-context: Refers to an aspect of partnership cooperation in development work, which implies serving as facilitator for forming links with relevant proficiencies, groups or institutions that contribute positively to project or program development.


See: networking , role

 

 

Change agent
endringsagent

An individual who sees change as an opportunity rather than a threat, who will be instrumental in managing change and taking it forward. The individual will give direction and momentum to the implementation of new policies and methods.

Lutrell/Piron (ODI), NPA Report 2004, p.7

 

 

Charity
veldedighet

Voluntary provision of hand-outs; food, money, materials, or other forms of help to people in need

Conventional C work often have a rooting in religion ("love thy neighbour") and is perceived more as compassionately "helping others"; helping/relieving them from their immediate problems, pain and suffering, here and now. While C  therefore is typicaly associated to acts of good deeds towards the needy, solidarity-based work proceeds further, linking up to empowerment-, networking- and advocacy strategies aiming at socio-political transformation and/or change.

 

 

Civic education
demokrati-utdanning

 

  • C means education in self-government,  i.e. active participation and influence.
  • C is competence building to enhance the awareness and knowledge about human rights and democracy and the practical consequences, which follow. Therefore, C should enhance the level of understanding and acceptance of the rights you and/or your organisation is entitled to, and to promoting the implementation of such rights.
  • C means empowerment through strengthened self-esteem.

(Policy and Strategy for NPA's International Humanitarian and development Work 2003-2007)

 

 

Civic society
sivilt samfunn

Refers to the non-military sector of society, its body politic and democratic structures.

 

 

Civil society
det sivile
samfunn

Those groups, networks, and relationships that are not organized or managed by the state.

( WB ,"Voices of the Poor, can anyone hear us?"/1999)

Organisations, interest groups, companies and enterprises that are not comprised by what we understand as the "state" or "public sector". C are i.a. applied when debating issues like democracy and popular participation within the context of institutional development and development-oriented issues as such.

(Gazette, 1997)


NPA context : C refers to "..the public "sphere" of society where ideological and political debate, influence and power are displayed. C organisations are formal and informal non-governmental groups, organisations and institutions with a wider purpose than profit generation. Although C in itself is value-neutral, every C organisation represents values and policies. The nature and role will differ according to traditions and situations of each society (..)".

"NPA and Partnership Cooperation in Civil Society", approved Dec. 2004

 

 

Common Country Assessment (CCA)
prosedyre for vurdering av nasjonal utvikling

 

Refers to the exercise of establishing an overview of national development prepared in the light of a common set of indicators and within the framework of the UNDAF process.

UN/OHCHR

 

 

Community based organisation (cbo)
lokalbasert grasrot-organisasjon

Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and Social Organisatins (SOs) : Affiliate or social grassroots organisations - based within, and developing from, actors within community - that respond to the interest of its members, or that associate residents around common problems or specific interests.; The main characteristics separating CBO/SOs from Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), is the CBO/SO's constituency- and community anchorage, as well as their absence or low level of bureaucracy, administrative structures and "professional" personnel/management.

See: Civil Society

 

 

Community Based Rehabilitation
integrert og nærmiljø-basert rehabilitering

“Community-based rehabilitation involves measures taken at the community level to use and build on the resources of the community, including the impaired, disabled, and handicapped persons themselves, their families, and their community as a whole.”

WHO, 1981

 

 

Comparative advantage
komparativt (relativt) fortrinn

The C concept was established by the 19th Century economist D. Ricardo as he opposed protectionist British Corn Laws and argued for free trade. As a rude simplification, C implies that (contrary to calculations based on absolute advantage) a country should export those commodities that can be produced most efficiently relative to the efficiency with which the average goods or services in the country are produced. Likewise, a country should import those goods and services that it produces less efficiently than goods and services in general. One main assumption of the C  paradigm is that all parties can benefit from trade, even in situations where one is a better producer of everything (all commodities and services) than the other.
The idea of C is a main basis for most economists' belief in free trade today.

Within the context of international development cooperation, C has to some extent been adopted in development jargon as a reference to the various actors and their respective proficiencies within the "market" of development oriented avtivities. The idea is that each actor specialize in what they do best relatively speaking - leaving the rest to be taken care of by actors who again are specialized within their fields - to ensure the most "efficient" use of total resources available.

KAK

See: added value, liberalism, market-liberalism, opportunity costs, organisational profile

 

 

 

Competence-building
kompetanse-oppbygging

Activity aiming at furnishing individuals or groups of people with certain identified educational or training skills required to mangage relevant institutions, or carry out specific tasks or duties within a project or program; C -activities focus directly on developing human potentional

See: capacity building , institution-building , empowerment , sustainability

 

 

Conditionality
hjelp gitt på visse vilkår

The use of foreign aid as a lever to promote objectives set by the donor which the recipient government would not otherwise have agreed to, and as a mechanism to try and ensure that money is spent in the way the giver intended.
Donors offer economic, political, values-based and commercial rationales for conditionality. They also share a clear assumption that most conditionality is in the interests of recipients.

(The Reality of Aid Interim Report 2000)

 

 

Confidence
tillit

Something  you have until you know better J.

 

 

Conflict prevention
konflikt-forebygging

 

A term frequently used by international organisations, research institutes, and governments, to describe work done to prevent conflicts from erupting violently.

However, the actual aim is not to prevent conflict , but to prevent the violence which results from conflicts being inappropriately dealt with or ignored - or when oppressive and unjust structures are left unchanged. Therefore, a more appropriate term would be violence prevention , where conflict is recognised as something natural, and experienced in all aspect of life, thus drawing a distinction between conflict as creative (a positive, dynamic force) and conflict as destructive .

Violence prevention includes strengthening local capacities and augmenting resources for peace, building upon traditional and cultural approaches to conflict transformation, and working to promote dialogue between parties to a conflict. It is based on working together with local actors to develop creative and viable strategies for active peace work, and to lay the foundations within a community for sustainable and lasting peace. Violence prevention seeks to address the underlying causes and structures of conflict, to channel the energy created in a positive and creative manner, and to transform structures of violence arising from inequality, oppression, and the rule of force.

KAK

See: bridge-building , empowerment

 

 

Conscientisation
bevisstgjøring


See:
awareness raising

 

 

Contract
kontrakt, avtale


See:
partnership agreement

 

 

Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
FNs konvensjon om å avskaffe alle former for diskriminering av kvinner

On 18 December 1979, the CEDAW was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. It entered into force as an international treaty on 3 September 1981 after the twentieth country had ratified it. By the tenth anniversary of the Convention in 1989, almost one hundred nations have agreed to be bound by its provisions. The Convention was the culmination of more than thirty years of work by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), a body established in 1946 to monitor the situation of women and to promote women's rights. The Commission's work has been instrumental in bringing to light all the areas in which women are denied equality with men. These efforts for the advancement of women have resulted in several declarations and conventions, of which the CEDAW is the central and most comprehensive document.

L.B.

Seeequal rightshuman rights

 

 

Cost-Benefit Analysis(CBA)
nytte-kostnad analyse

A type of economic evaluation in which both the costs and consequences of different interventions are expressed in monetary units. CBA can be applied to items or services for which the market does not provide a satisfactory measure of value. The basis of the monetary quantification is usually willingness to accept or pay compensation for gains or losses.
There is a danger that costs and benefits that cannot be valued in monetary terms are simply ignored by decision-makers.

Greenfacts


See: appraisal , assessment , efficiency

 

 

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA)
kostnads-effektivitets-analyse

A form of economic evaluation in which the costs are expressed in monetary terms, but where some or all of the benefits are expressed in physical units (e.g. life-years gained, cases detected) due to the difficulties of quantifying outputs in amounts of money.

 

 

Country program
landprogram

NPA-context: NPA's total involvement in a given country.

 

 

Credit scheme
kreditt-program

See: micro credit, peer-groupRevolving Loan Funds (RLF)Small-Scale and Micro Enterprises (SSME)

 

 

Cross-cutting issues
tverrfaglige anliggender

NPA context :Refers to issues related to vision, ideology, development policy and/or methodology, which are seen to carry more or less relevance for all of the various projects or sub-programs within a country program.

Gender, HIV/AIDS and environment has been identified as C for the total NPA program portfolio. This demands a conscious recognition by all NPA personnel of the relevance of these issues to a sustainable development in general, and the observance of their implications to NPA program cooperation in particular.

Being identified as C, the mainstreaming of gender, HIV/AIDS and environment into all levels and operations of the NPA organisation will - as a matter of operationalisation - be pursued.

"All activities of NPA shall adhere to the C on gender, HIV/AIDS and environment. All partners and project will be assessed and appraised for their status on the awareness and activities concerning the C. Activities related to the issues are planned together with partners after the appraisal. The activities are initiated by the current status of the partners on these issues, as defined by standard analysis, and not as an active strategy from NPA".

(Policy and Strategy for NPA's Intenational  Humanitarion and Development Work, 2003-2007)

 

 

Decentralisation
desentralisering

The process and effort of moving power away from a concentrated core, and diffusing it throughout all levels of an organisation or country; to overcome "top-down", bureaucratic structures, where the capacity to control, plan strategy, and take decisions mainly is a directional flow from the centre outwards. D includes greater participation by actors at all levels, increasing the participation, strategy formation, and decision-making powers of the hitherto "periphery", promoting greater dialogue between all actors, and opening more space for previously "peripheral" voices in the decision-making process.

KAK

 

 

Demand-driven assistance
mottaker-initiert/definert bistand

Recipient-requested development assistance.


See: recipient orientation , recipient responsibility , supply driven assistance .

 

 

De Soto

See: Hernando de Soto

 

 

Demining
minerydding

Humanitarian activities which lead to the removal of mine and UXO (UneXploded Ordnance) hazards, including technical survey, mapping, clearance, marking, post-clearance documentation, community mine action liaison and the handover of cleared land. D may be carried out by different types of organisations, such as NGOs, commercial companies, national mine action teams or military units. D may be emergency-based or developmental.

PN

See: Humanitarian Mine Action

 

 

Democracy
demokrati

Greek: demos= people, kratein =power

NPA context : "True D means more than elections. It requires the consolidation of democratic institutions and the strengthening of democratic practices, with democratic values and norms implemented in all parts of society (...). D is a system and a process that guarantees civil and political human rights, which ensure people the opportunity to have a say in decision making processes affecting their lives, and to hold the decision makers responsible.
D differs from one country to another depending on each country’s history, context, and circumstances. However the basic principles include free and fair elections, equal access to information and resources, equal opportunities to communicate and express opinions, equal treatment on behalf of the authorities, and the accountability of the government towards its constituency.
Hence, equal opportunities for participation are crucial to a democratic development".

(Policy and Strategy for NPA's International Humanitarian and development Work 2003-2007)

 

 

Democratisation
demokratisering

Planned efforts and activities geared to supporting and reinforcing the building of democracy and active social participation.

See: awareness-raising , empowerment , grassroots organisation , institution-building , organisation-building , popular participation , popular mobilisation , social organisation .

 

 

Developed Countries
utviklede land

A term that usualley refers to societies in which there is enough capital to industrialise

 

 

Developing countries
utviklingsland

A term that usually refers to societies in which capital needed to industrialise is in short supply

 

 

Development
utvikling

The progressive (in time) process of human, cultural, political, economic and social change which shapes people's lives; D touches on all the personal, ideological, material and cultural factors which form our identity as social beings.
As D transformation does not follow a linear progression, it does not have a clear beginning, middle or end, nor is the outcome clear-cut or predictable.

OHDR

"Human development is about much more than the rise or fall of national incomes. It is about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests. People are the real wealth of nations. Development is thus about expanding the choices people have to lead lives that they value. And it is thus about much more than economic growth, which is only a means — if a very important one — of enlarging people ’s choices.
Fundamental to enlarging these choices is building human capabilities —the range of things that people can do or be in life. The most basic capabilities for human development are to lead long and healthy lives, to be knowledgeable, to have access to the resources needed for a decent standard of living and to be able to participate in the life of the community. Without these, many choices are simply not available, and many opportunities in life remain inaccessible".

Human Development  Report, 2004

 

 

Development discourse
diskurs relatert til "utvikling"

D describes a way of thinking and outlook, a system of values and priorities that marginalises other possible ways of thinking. A D is a configuration of ideas which provides the threads from which ideologies are woven. Numerous Ds can be identified, for example the ‘scientific discourse’, which sees development as a rational, technical and scientific process, grounded in Western expertise.

R. Sutton/ODI

In the social sciences, a D is considered to be an institutionalized way of thinking, a social boundary defining what are being said about a specific topic. Ds are seen to affect our views on all things; in other words, it is not possible to escape D. For example, two distinctly different Ds can be used about various guerrilla movements describing them either as "freedom fighters" or "terrorists". In other words, the chosen D delivers the vocabulary, expressions and perhaps also the style needed to communicate.

D is closely linked to different theories of power and state, at least as long as defining discourses is seen to mean defining reality itself.

The social conception of D is often linked with the work of the French social philosopher M. Foucault (1926-1984).

Wikipeda

See: discourse analysis, paradigm

 

 

Development objective
utviklingsmål


See: Millennium Goals ,   objective

 

 

Development process
utviklings-prosess

A continuation of social organisation and distribution patterns that take place within various social contexts where a minimum of stability and infrastructure has been established.


See: development , development work

 

 

Development work
utviklingsrettet arbeide

Time- and scope-limited and transient "intervention" in a development process.

OHDR

NPA-context: Emergency relief- and long term development assistance should be seen as two forms of "interventions" unfolding to support different stages of a development process, but seen within the same development perspective . Consequently, emergency relief intervention should, to the extent possible, be organised in a way which encourages/ facilitates/generates consecutive and locally based development strategies.

 

 

Direct beneficiaries
de som drar direkte nytte av

See: beneficiaries

 

 

Disaster
katastrofe

A serious disruption of society which causes widespread human suffering and psychological loss and damage, and which stretches the community's normal coping mechanisms to breaking points.

See: emergency relief , pre-disaster planning

 

 

Disaster mitigation
dempe katasrofe-virkninger

The action taken to reduce both human suffering and property loss, resulting from a disaster.

See: pre-disaster planning

 

 

Disaster preparedness
være rustet til å møte en katastrofe

The actions taken to limit the impact of a disaster by structuring response and establishing a mechanism for effecting a quick and orderly action. This could include prepositioning of supplies and equipment, developing of pre-emergency action plans, manuals and procedures, and developing warning and evacuation procedures and strengthening and/or protection of critical facilities

See: pre-disaster planning

 

 

Disaster prevention
avverge/forebygge katastrofe

The action taken to eliminate or avoid disaster and their effects.

See: pre-disaster planning

 

 

Discourse
diskurs

See: Development discourse

 

 

Discourse analysis
diskurs-analyse

There are two meanings for this term depending on how ‘discourse’ is defined:

  1. When used to mean a particular way of thinking and arguing which involves the political activity of naming and classifying, discourse analysis attempts to make explicit the implicit values and ideologies in discourses. It aims to depoliticise them and strip them of their value laden terminology.
  2. ‘Discourse’ can also refer to dialogue, language, and conversation. If defined in this way,discourse analysis relates to the analysis of language used in policy-making. It relates, for example, to the use of labelling in policy discussions, such as ‘peasants’, ‘the rural poor’, or ‘landless’.

R. Sutton/ODI

 

See: paradigm

 

 

Donor agency
giver

Organisation/institution/agency providing development assistance through any form of support the donation might take: money, material, personnel etc.


See: funding agency

 

 

Duty bearers
de som bærer ansvaret for..

Within a human rights context, D denotes those who have the obligations to ensure that human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.

Lutrell/Piron (ODI), NPA Report 2004, p.7

See: right-holders

 

 

Early Warning Systems(EWS)
for-varslingssystemer

Systems developed according to certain indicators to predict potential break-down or crisis. Often used with regards to E directed towards the outbreak of violent conflict and war, as well as natural and man-made disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes and famine. The development of E which draw attention to areas of potential break-down and crisis and to already existing social and physical fault-lines, can be an important tool in building capacity for effective and timely responses to emergency situations and improved "violence prevention" and disaster mitigation.

KAK

 

 

EASY
"enkelt" analyse-redskap for miljø-konsekvenser  

 

See: environmental assessment system

 

 

Ecological Footprint
økologisk fotavtrykk

The  E is a tool for measuring and analyzing human natural resource consumption and waste output within the context of nature’s renewable and regenerative capacity. It represents a quantitative assessment of the biologically productive area (the amount of nature) required to produce the food, energy and materials, and to absorb the wastes of an individual, city, region, or country.

The Earth has a limited area of ecoproductive land; or land generating resources that are useful to humans. Sustainability requires living within the regenerative and absorptive capacity of the planet. When humanity’s Footprint is within the annual regenerative capabilities of nature, its footprint is sustainable. In the late 1970s humanity’s collective Ecological Footprint breached the sustainability mark for the first time, and has remained increasingly unsustainable ever since

If the Earth's ecoproductive land was equally divided among all humans, there would be appr. 5 acres available for each person (the so called "Fair Earth Share"). The average person alive today has an Ecological Footprint of 6 acres according to conservative estimates. Western Europe and particularly North America, have the highest per capita Footprints of any region on Earth.

Fair Earth Share :  5 acres/person
World Footprint  :  6 acres/person
US Footprint      :  24 acres/person

Redifining Progress 2004

 

 

Economic (al)
nøysom/rasjonell ressursbruk

A prudent managing of resources (monetary and/or non-monetary) to avoid extravagant expenditure or waste.

 

 

Effectiveness
Måloppnåelse

LFA : A measure of the extent to which a project or program is successful in achieving its objectives (in most NPA contexts;  project results and the immediate objective).

 

 

Efficacy
effekt, virkning

The measured/experienced/registered  effect or usefulness of something, e.g. the efficacy of a certain medicine on the human nervous system, or the medicine's efficacy as remedy for pain relief.

 

 

Efficiency
produktivitet

LFA : a measure of the "productivity" of the implementation process; how economically the project has been delivered in terms of results (outputs) produced quantitatively and qualitatively, and in terms of costs and timing.

 

 

Emergency relief
nødhjelp

Short term assistance provided in response to man-made or natural disasters (draughts, wars, refugees etc.).


See: development work

 

 

Empowerment
styrke/bygge opp egne krefter,
egenstyrking,
myndiggjøring

Increasing people's ability to bring about change, whether this is modest or far-reaching in its impact; based on the conviction that people can solve their problems through their own individual and collective efforts, rather than relying on what other people do for them. E strategies are essentially concerned with confronting the ways in which people internalise their low social status, often resulting in a devastating lack of self-esteem. However, self-esteem may be restored as people realise the commonality of their problems or understand the structures which affect their situation. Through this process individuals and groups recognise and pursue their legitimate right and roles to play in decision-making which affect their lives (e.g. rights to local natural resources). Consequently, the E -concept is profoundly concerned with how individuals gain the strength, confidence and vision to work for positive change in their own lives; the (dynamic) process of empowerment.

Examples of empowerment in operation:

  • a woman gaining the confidence to seek legal protection from her violent husband
  • landless farmers campaigning for agrarian reform or organising to occupy idle land
  • factory-workers lobbying for the right to unionise
  • families forming a committee to campaign for the release of political/conscientisation prisoners.
  • local fishermen organising to protect their resource base and demand their rights
  • local communities organising to denounce and dispose of corrupt local leaders/politicians.
  • Individuals and communities uniting together to declare non-participation in a war and to search for peaceful alternatives.

People's empowerment is seen to work when they combine together to achieve their objectives.

E represent the basic and ultimate concept governing all NPA development intervention, and is the thematic umbrella under which interrelated sub-concepts are applied as deemed fit, involving elements of awareness-raising, popular mobilisation, organisation-building, organisational development, capacity-building, institution-building, democratisation etc.


See: gender empowerment measure , self-reliance, rights-based approach

 

 

Entrepreneurship
entreprenør-virksomhet

Refers to a process where human creativity, ambition and willingness to risk investment capital are combined in the establishment of new productive activities/enterprises.


See: micro-credit , revolving loan fund

 

 

Environment
miljø

E may be defined as the complex of climatic, biotic (relating to life and living organisms), social and edaphic (related to soil) factors that acts upon an organism and determines its form and survival. It, therefore, includes everything that may directly affect the behavior of a living organism or species, including light, air, water, soil, and other living beings.

Wikipeda

See:  Environmental Assessment System (EASY),  Environmental impact assessments (EIAs)habitat, sustainability

 

 

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) miljøkonsekvens-analyse

strictly professional/technical/ economic analysis of environmental factors arising from planned project/program implementation.

See : appraisal , cost-benefit analysis , Environmental Assessment System (EASY).

 

 

Environmental Assessment System (EASY)
systembasert miljøkonsekvens-analyse

EASY refers to a comprehensive environmental assessment system, including tools and procedures, which is complementary to baseline studies and environmental impact assessments (EIAs) . EASY is different from EIAs in that it is based on the direct and active involvement of local stake-holders in the assessment itself. It is specifically designed for development projects where economic, social, cultural, gender and political aspects are measured against environmental issues.

EE

See: Appraisal , Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

 

Equal rights / equal opportunities
likestilling

Implies equal rights and opportunities for all - regardless of gender, race, religion, age or social status.


See:
 gender equality,  human rights , solidarity

 

 

Equality
likhet

Through history, the idea of human E has proved both complex and elusive, related to a variety of other pivotal ideas such as "equality of man in the eyes of God", "equality of the common human nature", "equality of wealth and resources", "equality of condition" , "equality of opportunity" and "equality before the Law".

With the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the universal principle of "equality of rights" was established as a normative imperative for the democratic development of member states. Here, E is measured in terms of universal accession to the most fundamental human rights as spelled out in the Covenants ratified in 1976:  1) Political and Civil rights, and 2) Social, Economic and Cultural rights, respectively.

During the Cold War era, the concept of E was mainly related to political and civil E in the "West", while the "East" put primacy to social and economic E (material egalitarianism in a "classless" society).

Later, E to some extent came to be associated with the "defeated" socialism and the discredited concepts of collectivism and egalitarianism.  On the other hand, the concept of freedom has typically been associated with liberalism and modern lifestyles, with western democracies as guarantor for individual freedom, creativity and multiplicity.

However, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "human rights are inalienable and essential to the well-being of every man, woman and child" and that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights" (our italics); human rights are seen as the continuum of human freedoms, which are rendered equal to all human beings. E, rights and freedoms are therefore interlinked and unalienable concepts that must be carefully weighed and harmonised within a HR-oriented approach to development.

NPA-context: While the principle of equal accession of political and civil rights are more or less accepted across contemporary political landscapes, economic, cultural and social rights draw more controversy. This is mainly related to the well documented fact that poverty is the result of incompatible international and/or national distribution patterns rather than by shortage of available resources as such. If securing basic human rights for all without jeopardising the world's natural resources shall become a reality, NPA believes that alternative and more E-oriented mechanisms for equitable distribution of society's incomes, goods and services necessarily will have to be pursued in future.

"NPA shall actively seek to contravene growing social inequalities(...)" and will "implement programs aiming at creating more equal living conditions."

(Solidarity - NPA’s basic Principles and Values, 2003)

KAK

See: human dignity, justice

 

 

Equity
rettferdighet, 
rimelighet

In the context of social development E denotes justice as fairness; correction of law when too severe or defective; system of justice existing side by side with and supplementing common law.  E thus remains the spirit by which the law is reformed , in one way or another, to become more responsive to the moral demands of society.  E suggests that the law may not always be perfect, that the enforcement of legal rights and duties may fall short of justice and that there may be conflicts between the demands of legal justice and justice according to conscience or reason.

"E and law are not entirely the same, nor are they entirely different. Both are right and praiseworthy; they are not opposed to one another; each is a kind of justice; but the equitable is superior as a good. There are the legally just and the equitable just, and the latter is a correction of the former" (...) "And this is the nature of the equitable; a correction of law where it is defective owing to its universality”.

(Aristotle / Ethics, Book V, Ch. 10).

See: Human Rights, gender equity

 

 

Ethnic conflict
etnisk konflikt/krigføring

A term used to describe violent conflict and warfare between different groups identifying themselves along "ethnic" lines.
The identification of a conflict as "ethnic" has often led to a belief in "ethnicity" as the cause of conflict. This has resulted in a failure to identify the underlying causes and structures of violence, and an often racist belief in the "war"-prone tendencies of certain groups and people's. While "ethnicity" has sometimes served as a means of self- and other-identification, thereby providing the lines along which a conflict is channelled, it is not in and of itself a source of conflict.

KAK

 

 

EUROSTEP

Abbr. for  "European Solidarity Towards Equal Participation of People", an international association of European NGOs formed in 1990, working for justice and equal opportunities for people North and South.


See: ICVA , The Reality of Aid

 

 

Evaluation
evaluering, etterprøving

A systematic examination of a project/program (usually after some time/years of operation, or after it has been concluded), in order to determine its effectiveness, efficiency, impact and relevance.

An E is generally thought to have three main purposes:

  1. to improve project management
  2. as an instrument of control
  3. as a medium to draw lessons and learn from experience

Although all three considerations are normally part of an E , they are not always of equal focus; the proportionate weight of each component is determined i.a. by characteristics of the particular E -exercise and local context.  

NPA context: An E may be "internal" - i.e. carried out by the project or program itself (self-evaluation), or "external" - to ensure an independent approach, assessments and recommendations. Further, the two approaches may be combined in an E- exercise which is headed by an external independent resource person, but actively involving the NPA/EO and the local project/program management. Both an internal and external E may apply a "participatory" approach, where the beneficiaries are actively involved in the E exercise.

Preferably, an element of E is built into all planning-, monitoring- and reporting processes and formats, to ensure an early identification of program shortcomings and their possible solutions. This principle of process-related and integrated E allows unexpected problems to be challenged during the life-time of the project, thus enhancing the probabilities for a satisfactory or successful end result.   

KAK

Seeindicator, purpose

 

 

Expert
ekspert

A person who is very far from home J

 

 

External factors
ytre
(påvirknings-)
faktorer

LFA : Events, conditions and/or decisions which are necessary for project fulfillment, but which are outside the formal control of the project management.

 

 

Facilitator
fasilitator, en som "legger til rette"

NPA context: One aspect of NPA's role in partnership cooperation that takes active steps to ascertain that possibilities are at hand for good communication, exchange of experience and information, linkage to relevant resource-centres/persons, forming strategic alliances etc.


See: catalyst role , partnership , role

 

 

Feasibility-study
forstudie,
"rimelighets"-vurdering

An exercise which aims at establishing to what extent a proposed project/program is realistic and should be carried out.


See:   appraisal , assessment , cost-benefit analysis , cost-effectiveness analysis

 

 

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
kvinnelig kjønns-lemlestelse

FGM, often referred to as "female circumcision", comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural, religious or other non-therapeutic reasons. There are different types of female genital mutilation known to be practised today. They include:
Type I - excision of the prepuce, with or without excision of part or all of the clitoris;
Type II - excision of the clitoris with partial or total excision of the labia minora;
Type III - excision of part or all of the external genitalia and stitching/narrowing of the vaginal opening (infibulation);
Type IV - pricking, piercing or incising of the clitoris and/or labia; stretching of the clitoris and/or labia; cauterization by burning of the clitoris and surrounding tissue; scraping of tissue surrounding the vaginal orifice (angurya cuts) or cutting of the vagina (gishiri cuts); introduction of corrosive substances or herbs into the vagina to cause bleeding or for the purpose of tightening or narrowing it; and any other procedure that falls under the definition given above.
The most common type of female genital mutilation is excision of the clitoris and the labia minora, accounting for up to 80% of all cases; the most extreme form is infibulation, which constitutes about 15% of all procedures.

WHO

 

 

Flashlight
lommelykt

A case for holding dead batteries   J

 

 

Food security
matvaresikkerhet

Access by all people at all times for enough food to live a healthy life

EE


See: basic needs , Human Rights

 

 

Formal sector
formell sektor

The "official" part of the labour market - as well as public health, education, housing and organisation - which is governed by national labour laws and regulations, and which represents the basis for national statistics on financial performance etc.

See: informal sector

 

 

Framework Agreement
ramme-avtale

NPA context: Refers to a long-term cooperation agreement between NORAD and NPA.

 

 

Freedom
frihet

In a development context, F denotes the right, or the capacity, of self-determination, as an expression of the individual will, or the collective will of  volunarily organised or associated individuals . A  universal understanding of human F is embedded in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights , expressed as individual rights and freedoms of social, political , cultural and economic nature.  

Historically, however, the observance of individual F was early inspired by the need for legitimacy and protection of private property. In the late 1600s, philosopher John Locke argued that the urge for private ownership is a fundamental aspect of human nature , preceding even the early social and political formation of individuals within societies; “every Man has a Property in his own Person, the Labour of his Body, and the Work of his Hands”. In his view, every man was entitled to whatever he "mixed" his labour with, the natural resourses he thereby aquired and the surplus of any form of exchange he took part in. The only reason he accepted voluntarily subsuming to any state powers was the need for legitimate protection of ones private property. Therefore, the best possible way to uphold one's  F was to voluntarily surrender some of it to the authority of a minimalistic State of Law. 

Two centuries later, Karl Marx supports the view that an individual ”owns” his or her own labour, but argues that the individual labourers are forced to sell their labour force below its real value due to the exploitative nature of capitalism. Therefore, it is argued, F for all only can be realised through abolishion of private ownership, and equal distribution of society's resources.

While liberal policies forfeited F for the individual , Marxist oriented positions put emphasis on  individual F for all. This ideological polarisation agitated the conflicts of the Cold War era, and nurtured the established notion of freedom and individualism versus equality and collectivism as more or less incompatible concepts.

More than anything, it came to be liberal ideas of individual human rights and liberties that inspired the formulation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Resolution, adopted unanimously by the UN in 1948. However, the two "supplementary" Covenants ( Civil and Political Rrights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) made effective in 1976, reflect the appreciation of conditions and structures also transcending the individual level, as vital for human F and well-being.

NPA context:
NPA  acknowledges F as the full range of Human Rights (HRs) and liberties that are embedded in the UN Universal Human Rights Charter - i.e. economic as well as political, cultural and social human freedoms.

In practical situations, however, it is often problematic to determine whether a violation of HRs are of a strictly cultural, political, social or economic nature, as they are usually interlinked and  often give room for contextual interpretation. Still, the operationalisation of HR-strategies that are closely hinged to economic policies and structures are usually the ones to stir more controversy – probably more so because conflict of interest and uneven distribution patterns are more readily demonstrated here than within cultural, social or political sectors

The economic sector also holds strong implications for the global realisation of the totality of HR-concerns. A strategy to support the realisation of individual  F as a universal human right must therefore take into consideration the predominant patterns of uneven and disproportionate distribution of wealth that pose a hindrance to sustainable development and growth. Questioning the established image of equality and F as seemingly incompatible concepts, NPA considers them rather as complementary and mutually preconditional – as two sides of the coin. The merge of equality and  F has  to some extent been put to practice  within the framework of  the Nordic social democratic tradition that NPA is rooted in. Without indulging in ideological debate of “models”,  NPA firmly gives primacy to the furthering of democratic rule and control over market forces. Private property and market operations must be subject to the necessary form of regulation, provided the objective is universal F for all. 

KAK  

"If the quest for free and personal development shall truly apply to all human beings, we need a high degree of equality of economic and social living conditions".

G. Garbo

"The living conditiones secured by the Welfare State facilitates the form of individualisation that used to be enjoyed only by the priviledged few"

U. Beck

See: democracy ,   human freedom index , human rights ,

 

 

Funding agency
finansieringskilde

Organisation/institution/agency providing development assistance in the form of financial support.

See: donor agency